Quick review on 1080i scaling Liteon LVD2001 DVD Player

I just picked up the new Liteone LVD 2001 DVD player, and the 1080i scaling works great. This player will scale any DVD (even copyprotected ones) up to 1080i resolution, and output it through it's component outputs. My primary DVD source right now is a Radeon equipped PC running Theatertek software. The HTPC scales all DVDs to 1080i so this is my benchmark I used to test the Liteon player. he Liteon will output 480P, 720P or 1080I. The latest firmware contains a very easy way to turn off region coding and macrovision so that all DVDs can be scaled to 1080i. The resulting picture is quite good. It is much more filmlike than a 480p image. The color rendition is as good if not better than my HTPC. Detail is not quite as good as the PC, but about 85-90% as good. There seems to be a bit more noise in some scenes than I am used to seeing with the HTPC, but nothing objectionable.

The p-scan button on the remote switches between 480i, 480p, 480 i Pal, 480p Pal, 720p and finally 1080i.

You can play just about anything with this player including MP3, JPG files, Mpeg files, Divx files, and Mpeg4 files. I have just been experimenting with DVDs so far.

HW Reviewer

These are going on ebay for around $170 as well as a slew of other VERY similar players based on the same chipset going BIN as low as $135. The Bravo D1 is based on the same chipset but has DVI output and doesn't scale to 720p/1080i over component w/out a hack.

I have the Bravo D1 and am using DVI. PQ is great, features are great, Divx 3.11 suppport is fairly sketchy. The only real problem is the loader is noticably buggy. i out of every 5 discs i have won't play correctly on the first try. Open it up and close it again and it'll usually play right, but slow loading makes this a fairly bothersome process.

Marc, You indicated that the LVD-2001 will upconvert copy protected (commercial) DVD's to 1080i on the component output, but the review that Craig pointed to seem to say that it did not. Can you double check that again, or better yet can someone else confirm it as well?

Also, for those interested Newegg.com also has the LVD-2001 for $150 and free shipping. They're generally considered one of the most reliable e-tailers for computer products. Nothing against PCClub, but I've just not heard of them before.

How would one get the file to update the firmware? Is it on Liteon's website?

And, silly as this may seem, how would you rate the Liteon's performance compared to something like the Panasonic RP91? I'm talking with scaling turned on.

And on PAL material, I'm curious as to the squeeze problem. My knowledge of this particular problem is only that it exists. What is it exactly, and can it be cured? I'm going to be watching these on a 16x9 set, so will they still be anamorphic?

And I echo Dave's comments, are we sure that this player upconverts over component?

The web site is confusing. whatever the format of a DVD (480p or 480i) , the player takes it and scales it to 1080i. You can do this with ANY dvd as long as you enter the macrovision disable code on the remote.

With 1080i scaling turned on, the picture quality surpasses that of the Panasonic RP91.

Firmware updates can be obtained right on the Liteon web site. They seem to provide updates quite often. I just downloaded one, and two days later there was a newer one.

With 1080i scaling turned on, the picture quality surpasses that of the Panasonic RP91.

*drool* you're really making me want one... However LOTR EE's have taught me that having a 5 disk changer can be a good thing.... I wonder when Panasonic (or anyone else) will release a more standard variety DVD changer with 720p/1080i scaling over component built in... I'm just never satisfied

With 1080i scaling turned on, the picture quality surpasses that of the Panasonic RP91.

Oooh! This was my primary concern, as the Bravo D1 (which is supposedly similar to this model) was apparently ***not*** good for scaling over component connections. People here and at AVS said to buy the D1 only if you planned to use the DVI output.

I am now much more interested in this player. Normally I might not spend the cash on a risk, but I just moved apartments and was going to buy a CD player for the bedroom. Maybe I'll buy this and if it surpasses the RP91 I'll move that to the BR as a CD/DVD player and keep this one in the living room.

I think you only disable Macrovision once, same with region-coding. This player is a Bravo clone, as is the MOMITSU & the Neuston Maestro DVX-1201. I was able to cancel my PC Club order & go newegg.com instead. Cheaper even with NJ tax.